Packers and Hawk will continue to talk over next day

It’s not a surprise that Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk got released Wednesday considering the huge bonus on his contract. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if Hawk returned to the team.

Heck, it’s even possible Hawk could return to the team by the end of Thursday.

Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports Hawk and the Packers will continue to talk through tomorrow night in hopes of getting a deal done. While that will be tough to accomplish, it’s a good sign that both sides would like to come up with a contract that makes sense.

Mike McCarthy indicated at the Combine that Desmond Bishop was locked into a starting job at inside linebacker, which would indicate that Hawk and Nick Barnett would likely get the other gig. If the Packers can get Hawk back at a reasonable rate, Barnett could get the boot.

The Packers officially confirmed Hawk’s release and also announced the release of tight end Donald Lee and safety Derrick Martin. G.M. Ted Thompson wished Lee and Martin well, but hoped Hawk would be back.

“With A.J., the business side of the game is driving this decision,” Thompson said. “We’re hopeful that we can continue to work with A.J. to have him be a part of our team in the future.”

Hawk was just a good…not great….linebacker since being drafted high in the first round. After Nick Barnett left because of injury, Hawk came into his own. He had an outstanding last half of the season and playoffs.
Barnett is not young, has been hurt too much and commands some good $$$. With Bishop playing at a top level, and Hawk playing well, I hope they can sign A.J. and cut Barnett. They have a solid backup with Brandon Chillar. Hawk’s contract was more than 10 million as I remember, put into his contract so the team would negotiate the final year.
Nice to have an abundance of decent linebackers for once.

Read this article again and tell me if you still side with the owners.
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Looks more like proof their should be a rookie salary scale. He’s been an average LB for 5 years, not a top tier player like everyone thought he would be but still not a bust. He got a contract that was in line with the #5 pick and this should show that this part of the system is broken.

In the previous article “Packers Cut Hawk”, I stated that Desmond Bishop would be the starting ILB, and no one believed me (30 thumbs down, only 6 thumbs up). Well, according to McCarthy “Desmond Bishop is locked into a starting job at inside linebacker”. Well aren’t I quite the fortune teller!

The Pack should have let Barnett go. He is the most overrated player on our roster. He is always injured and rarely makes great plays. He gets a lot of tackles, but that is because he tackles players 5+ yards past the LOS.

Hawk is FAR from a bust. He’s by FAR the most consistent player on defense. He’s the quarterback of the defense and his attitude is Much better than Barnett’s. The Greenbay Packers can exist without him but they are MUCH better with him. Get him resigned Teddy. Just get it done.

This article is exactly why there needs to be a cba that is fair for both sides of the contractors.
There needs to be a rookie pay scale so the teams don’t get railroaded like in the JBust Russel deal. But also needs to pay the players for their contracts. The owners whine like babies if a guy feels he outperformed his contract and would like a raise. Yet the have no problem simply ignoring the CONTRACT they signed and screwing people out of millions. Whether you feel he played up to it or not, if you don’t want to pay him that much. Don’t sign him to a contract for that much.
Why are the players the only ones who are expected to uphold the contract?

keramidas21 – In the previous article “Packers Cut Hawk”, I stated that Desmond Bishop would be the starting ILB, and no one believed me (30 thumbs down, only 6 thumbs up). Well, according to McCarthy “Desmond Bishop is locked into a starting job at inside linebacker”. Well aren’t I quite the fortune teller!

Umm, you got 30 thumbs down b/c obviously you failed to grasp that in a 3-4 scheme there are 2 ILB’s…so you’re not exactly Nostradamus when you said Bishop would be the starting ILB when there are 2 ILB positions in a 3-4 genius.

It seems like both AJ and TT are on the same page. AJ isn’t going to get $10 million with anyone else, so he might as well stay. He’s a good player and Barnett is obviously on his way out. AJ is a good investment and he’s been productive. I just hope there’s a season next year.

Man thats weak.I knew A.J growing up and he’s a good dude.In a league full of Mike Vicsk,Ben Ruthlessbangers,and Brandon Marshalls it sucks to see something like this happen to one of the really good guys.Chicken Sh## move Packers.

Hawk is NOT a bust… Justin Harrell is a bust. Hawk doesn’t make a lot of spectacular plays but there is something to be said for a guy who shows up every week, is a dependable tackler, and calls the defensive plays. I hope they can resign him.

“The Pack should have let Barnett go. He is the most overrated player on our roster. He is always injured and rarely makes great plays. He gets a lot of tackles, but that is because he tackles players 5+ yards past the LOS.”

WTF are you talking ablout? That is what everyone said about Hawk up until this season. He has accounted for something like 3 turnovers in his career and always seemed to be tackling guys after 5 yard gains. He just fit in better this season. People are down on Nick because he is outspoken (we all know that fans hate “uppity” black guys) but he has been an outstanding player for the pack. Everyone seems to have forgotten that AJ wanted out of GB really bad at the beginning of the year because he did not play in passing situations as the packers had Barnett AND Chillar ahead of him on the depth chart for the Nickel defense. I don’t think he played a single snap on defense week 1 versus Philly. That said I still like him and think the packers would be wise to keep him. Lets just not forget who he is.

Hawk consistently showed up late to plays and he cannot cover. He is not fast and he isn’t particularly instinctive. He’s just a solid assignment-sure guy. I never really loved Barnett either, especially for what he was paid, but he is more instinctive and faster.

That said, there is no way they should be contemplating giving this guy Barnett-like money at $5.5 or $6 million per with a huge signing bonus. Especially when we can get a very nice LB in the late first or second round and still have Barnett until the guy can unseat him. If they don’t think Barnett can get or stay healthy, then I guess you cut him and give Hawk that money. Hawk’s only redeeming qualities are health and age when comparing to Barnett and that shouldn’t be enough to pay him huge $$

In the previous article “Packers Cut Hawk”, I stated that Desmond Bishop would be the starting ILB, and no one believed me (30 thumbs down, only 6 thumbs up). Well, according to McCarthy “Desmond Bishop is locked into a starting job at inside linebacker”. Well aren’t I quite the fortune teller!

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Yeah numbnuts, quite the call. Any Packers fan knew Bishop was there to stay two games after Barnett was out for the year.

1972wasalongtimeago says:
Mar 2, 2011 8:15 PM
Packers: “So, A.J., we negotiated a contract with you. Part of the deal was that you would get less money up front, but in return we’ give you a huge bonus after the 2010 season. ”

Packers: “Well, we were happy to pay you less than you were worth, but now that you have the bonus coming, we’re going to have to let you go.”

Packers: “But we love you A.J., and we hope you’ll come back and be a part of our team in the future”.

A.J.: “Are you Effing Kidding Me?”

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You really do not know what you’re talking about.

Those contracts are structured intentionally that way to force the team to to release the player (effectively shortening the standard contract by a year), and let the player hit free agency early, get the player a press release about their huge deal when it is made, and give the team a way, albeit expensive, to hold on if it wants.

The Hawk contract worked exactly the way it is supposed to.

Here, both team and player want to continue. Player gets released, has the ability to go elsewhere, but they are working out a market-level deal as equal bargaining partners.

Hawk has been over rated since the first step he took on Lambeau Field. He is just an above average backup linebacker, Vikings dont need him, we have plenty of young talent there already……would like a visit with Bob Sanders though.